Book Review: The Heart of Arcrea

Age Appropriate For: Ages 12 + (some mild violence)

Best for Ages: 12-18

Some self-published books leave you wanting to toss the book in the trash and write a horrible review, no matter how well intentioned the book was. Some of them leave you apathetic. Some make you wonder why a publisher hasn’t picked it up. A few leave you amazed and thankful that the author stepped out in faith and published. The Heart of Arcrea was one of those few.

From the moment I opened this book I didn’t want to put it down. Not only was it well written and the story engaging, but the characters were well developed and I found myself loving them. Druet’s ever growing band of followers offered many moments of laughter, as well as some very profound ones.

One of the things I most loved about this story is that I could tell it came from Nicole’s heart. I have read many books that are well written and developed, but there are few that I have read that I feel like I connect to the author’s heart. This story made that connection.
The pictures that she painted with her words (as well as her illustrations) helped me to see this story unfold. If fact, at one point I really felt like I had been watching a movie she painted such a vivid picture. She has talent I wish I had.

I can’t say enough about this story. There is no magic. The only reason to classify it as a fantasy is that it takes place in a fictional country, and there are some fantastical creatures and dangerous plants. Some very young children may find parts of it a little scary, but it is perfect for a family to read aloud.

I highly recommend this for the non-magical fantasy lover, seeking a faith-building story of friendship, mystery, and adventure.

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I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.